Brian,

I don't see any difference between my characterization of IA and yours, and don't appreciate your insinuation that my opinion constitutes character assassination. Because my opinion of him is much less than yours doesn't make my opinion character assassination, and yours a balanced view. You and I are both discussing what we believe IA's motivations to be. Just because you believe his motivations to be more high minded than I do, certainly doesn't make your opinion "more balanced" or even more fair of an assessment than my own.

I do agree with this statement that you made above:

"I welcome the youth and energy, but there is much to be learned and gained with experience and maturity."

Where you and I fundamentally disagree it seems (besides over IA's motivations for writing the editorial he wrote), is whether it is fair to attack young musicians for lacking experience and maturity. That to me is condemning young people for being young people. Of course most of them don't have the benefit of our experience and maturity (though some who have lived a hard life at young ages can leave some of their elders in the dust, in that regard). But then, our music too often lacks their youth, their passion, and their energy, doesn't it?

If it is balance you are seeking, why not admit we need both youth AND maturity, enthusiasm and experience, in equal measure, rather than valuing the one (which happens to be the one you possess) over the other? Where is the balance in that?

Healthy music needs both, does it not? So why accuse only the young of lacking in creativity, passion, etc?